PERSON Poem: I MET A LITTLE BOY TODAY, by Ian Johnson

I met a little boy today
He is about five years old.
I met him in the choir loft
At Fairmount Congregational Church
In Wichita, Kansas.
He had loving parents
Who did all they knew how to do for him.

But there was Sunday when he was sitting
In church with his father
And felt the need to sit on his mother’s lap
And be held—right then!
So he went to the front of the church
Climbed up into the choir loft
And tried to sit on his mother’s lap.

His mother was in the choir
And was understandably embarrassed.
Why are you such an inconvenience?
That’s what he was asked.
You should have known better!
That’s what he was told.
As he was scolded and sent back
To his seat with his father.

That Sunday was 65 years ago,
And the little boy had never left the choir loft
When I met him today.
He was still about 5 years old
And still looking for his mother’s love
And feeling like a great inconvenience
Right now!

From that day to this
He has always feared asking for attention
When seeking love, he expects rejection.
So he usually doesn’t even ask.
And when he asks, he is usually rejected
Because he does it the wrong way.

But what can you expect?
He is only five!
His mother is long gone
And he is now so used to rejection
He accepts it without complaining

As just the way things are supposed to be
Though it still hurts just as much as the first time!

I met that little boy today
He is sitting on my lap right now
And he has a new friend.

Ian Bruce Johnson, November 24, 2024